By Michael Biamonte, C.C.N.

Probably the one thing everyone wants in today’s society is energy. Energy, in some cases, is more valuable than money.

Energy is defined for our purposes as the ability to move things and get things done. Lack of energy is the subject of many books, articles and writings. And, of course, vitamin sales. For millions of Americans, lack of energy is their chief complaint in life.

This article will explore some of the new discoveries and new breakthroughs regarding energy and how to get it. First, we are going to look at and discuss the key points we have found that cause a loss or absence of energy.

The first group of factors are infections, and in this group we find different types. The most common infections in this country which are causing lack of energy are number one: Candidiasis, otherwise known as candida. This is a yeast-like creature which lives in the intestinal tract of man. While it’s normal to find tiny amounts of this yeast, when someone takes a medication such as antibiotics or birth control pills, or any other medication known to disrupt the imbalance of friendly flora in the person’s intestinal tract, this yeast creature begins to overgrow, rising to harmful amounts. In excess, this creature is known to produce vaginal yeast infections in women, prostatitis in men, jock itch in men, athlete’s foot fungus, strange red rashes, digestive complaints of all types including bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, loose stools, rectal itching, and discomfort after eating.

Candida is also known to produce food allergies and make one very sensitive to their environment, to the point where fumes, odors and smells can cause headaches, depression, anxiety, and other strange symptoms. Candida is also known to make one very spacey, foggy and fatigued. Fatigue is one of its main symptoms.

The next would be parasites. Parasites occur in all different forms, and they’re becoming more common in this country than anyone would believe. Parasites occur in microscopic forms such as those so small you would need a microscope to see them. Or, in larger form–commonly referred to as worms–these are exactly what they sound like. To the naked eye they literally look like worms and they inhabit the person’s intestinal tract. Parasites and worms have the capability of producing severe fatigue. Symptoms of parasites and worms are very varied. However, some of the symptoms are bloating, indigestion, acid stomach, rectal itching, rectal itching that’s especially bothersome at night, waking up frequently at night with or without rectal itching, rashes on the body, and flu-like symptoms. Insatiable hunger is also very common with worms and parasites, as well as intestinal pain.

Candida, worms and parasites rob one’s energy in several ways. One way is by causing malabsorption. Malabsorption means not to absorb. This is referring to vitamins and food in one’s diet. When one has worms and parasites and then it develops into malabsorption, the person cannot absorb nutrients from their diet. However, they can become anemic or deficient in many different vitamins or minerals.

Candida, parasites and worms also sap one’s energy by draining your immune system. Since your immune system is always fighting with these substances, we then have an energy problem based on the immune system being drained.

Viruses are another identity or category. The viruses can produce similar symptoms to candida, parasites and worms. But with viruses, it’s also very common that one will have sore throats, swollen glands and flu-like symptoms. Headaches are also common with viruses. Viruses drain one’s energy by draining one’s immune system.

Bacterial infections of the intestinal tract are also common. Klebsiella, citrobactor, proteus, and bacillus bacteria and pseudomonis are commonly found in people with yeast, parasites or worms. They can also be found by themselves. These bacteria can cause a similar effect to the yeast, parasites or worms by disrupting one’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients from food.

So from this first group we see that lack of energy can be caused by a drain on one’s immune system, caused by these harmful organisms, which can then lead to an inability to absorb nutrients from the diet, so it really wouldn’t make any difference what type of vitamins or diet one was on, if one was infested with these organisms.

The next major reason for lack of energy is a poor digestive system. Now, bear in mind a poor digestive system is usually accompanied by candida, parasites or worms. But for argument’s sake here, if we were to say that in some people it’s not, we would simply state that inability to properly digest one’s food and utilize the nutrition in the food will cause energy problems.

The next area where we find severe energy loss in people is straight into the area of nutritional balance of the body. There are several systems in the body that are primarily responsible for energy production. One is the reproductive system. Anyone who is deficient in reproduction hormones will experience a lack of energy. This system can be supported with various nutrients: Vitamin E, selenium, manganese, B-complex vitamins, essential fatty acids, and some particular herbs that support this system. It’s very common that the reproductive organs become toxic, especially when one has candida, parasites, worms, or viruses. In that case, the system will not accept the nutrients until the body is cleansed.

The liver is a common area which if deficient or not functioning, will cause lack of energy. The liver is responsible for the storage of fuel that the body will use later or to burn up as energy. The liver is also very involved in one’s utilization of protein, which is essential to produce energy.

Many people with liver problems develop what is referred to as “copper toxicity,” in that their body has too much of the element copper. This can cause a severe energy loss.

Many times people with thyroid difficulties are found to have liver problems relating to copper.

Energy is produced by two main systems in your body, the adrenal and thyroid glands. The adrenal glands act like fuel pumps in that they pump fuel in your body over to your cells so that the thyroid gland–acting like the spark plug–can ignite it. High fat diets, refined sugar and toxic metals such as copper and mercury can inhibit your adrenal function, as well as your thyroid function, causing massive energy loss.

So, when we speak of nutritional balance and the body’s ability to produce energy, we’re many times really looking at the ability of these glands that we’ve spoken of to utilize the nutrients in your diet, combine them with food, and create energy.